Advanced pane layout management (empty pane support, not auto-closing panes, pane layout setup)

[jankuca]

Check for existing issues

• [X] Completed

Describe the feature

I am very used to working with two to four columns of code (side-by-side panes) and I want to be in full control in how many there are without them constantly auto-closing.

What I'm missing:

• Being able to have an empty pane (or multiple empty panes) - ready for me to open files in
  • Setting up the pane layout without opening files in each pane
  • Keeping a pane open when I close the last open tab that was in the pane. The pane should only close if I explicitly close it (via "x" somewhere or via cmd+w when focused while empty).
• Setting up the layout using a command shortcut (shortcuts for one pane/column, two, three, four - I'm using custom shortcuts of cmd+option+1/2/3/4 for this)
  • The shortcut would ideally also reset sizing of the panes to equal widths if previously manually resized.
• Extra: Being able to merge panes by switching layout - if there are three panes and I want only two, two of the three merge into one, keeping all of the files still open.

If applicable, add mockups / screenshots to help present your vision of the feature

No response

[notpeter]

Thanks for writing up your thoughts. This feels like multiple parts which would likely need to built in order. Something like:

1. Empty panes: allow panes to exist after last tab is closed and a method to create/destroy empty panes.
2. Pre-defined groups of auto-sized empty panes (2 column, 3 column, 2x2 grid, etc)
3. Method to tabs to migrate to another pane when their pane is destroyed.

[neunato]

Also related - moving tabs to panes, ideally with an option to keep focus in current pane or follow the moving tab.

[universalmind303]

in zellij, you can define "layouts", something similar would be great!